Shuttle-box-operating mechanism for looms.



No. 783,213. PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905. J. T. MEATS.

SHUTTLE BOX OPERATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLIOATIOH FILED DEC. 3, 1904 3 SHEETSSHEET l.

Z0 d msea: Z 5100/42/7 No. 783,213. PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

J.'T. MEATS.

SHUTTLE BOX OPERATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

. APPLICATION FILED DEG. 3, 1904.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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I PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905. J. T. MEATS. I

SHUTTLE BOX OPERATING MECHANISM FOR'LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 3,1904.

.3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

I g MQ 4; 41; www- UNITED STATES Patented February 21, 1905.

ATENT FFICE.

JOHN T. MEATS, OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO MASON MACHINE WORKS, OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SHUTTLE-BOX-OPERATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,213, dated February 21, 1905.

Application filed December 3, 1904. Serial No. 235,288.

To all whom it may concern.-

- Be it known that I, J OI-IN T. MEATS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Taunton, county of Bristol, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Shuttle- Box Operating Mechanism for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates particularly to looms provided with shifting or drop shuttleboxes wherein two or more shuttles are used; and it has for its object the production of improved mechanism for operating the shuttlebox, whcreby the construction is simplified and the danger diminished of breakage from the displacement or improper adjustment of any of the parts. The latter result is attained in-a much more direct and simple manner than heretofore, while the pressure adjustment is of a most direct and efiicient character. As is well known to those skilled in the art, this adjustment must be so made that while there is suflicient rigidity to move with certainty the different compartments of the shuttle-box to the proper positions as called for by the controlling-pattern surface sufficient give or yielding must be provided to permit the box-operating mechanism, or some portion thereof, to remain inactive whenever the sh uttle is not properly boxed or when any of the parts are caught or held out of the proper normal position. In my present invention these objects are attained in a simple and novel manner, the mechanism employed to give the correct positioning of the dropbox, or shifting shuttle-box, (the terms being synonymous,)being simple and readily constructed and readily accessible for the purpose of adjustment.

The various novel features of my invention will be fully described in the subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in the following claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lefthand side of a shifting or drop box loom with one embodiment of my invention applied thereto, enough of the loom being shown to enable the operation of my invention to be understood, the picker-stick being omitted in order to show clearly parts behind it. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, omitting such parts of the loom as are unnecessary to understand the invention, the shuttle-box being shown at its highest position, a four-compartment box being illustrated, as in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail similar to Fig. 2, but showing the relative position of the parts when the upward movement of the box is obstructed to illustrate the operation of the relief device. Fig. 4 is a like view showing the position assumed by some of the parts when the descent of the box is obstructed. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5 5, Fig. 2, looking toward the left. Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6 6, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a like section on the line 7 7, Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a right-hand side elevation showing my invention applied to a two-compartment shuttle or drop box, and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the separable coupling detached from the vibrator and with the relief-spring omitted.

Referring to Fig. 1, the lay 1, having guides 2 for the shifting or drop shuttle-box 3, (a four-compartment box being shown in Figs. 1 to 4,) the depending shifter-rod t, connected at its upper end to the bottom of the shuttlebox, the rotatable plates 5 and 6, which are revolved half a revolution at a time by pattern-contr'olled mechanism of well-known construction, forming no part of my present in,- vention, and the spring-governed pressure rolls or detents 7 .8, adapted to enter the notches or recesses 5 6 in the plates, may be and are all of well-known or usual construo tion and operate in a manner familiar to those skilled in the art. The shuttle-box is raised and lowered on the guides 2 by or through longitudinal movement of the rod 4: to bring one or the other of its compartments or boxes into operative position with relation to the shuttle-race on the lay, and the mechanism intermediate the initial pattern-controlled gearing and the shuttle box comprehends my present invention, such mechanism being hereinafter termed the box operating mechanism and servingto transmit the motion from the initial gearing (as called for by the pattern-surface) to the shuttle-box. Hanging-links 9 10 are connected at their upper ends with wrist-pins 11 on the plates 5 and 6, re-

spectively, the lower ends of the links beingpivotally connected with and sustaining a transmitter, shown as a lever 12, pivoted at 13 on a radius-rod 14. The latter is fulcrumed on a stud 15, adjustably mounted on the loom side, and controls the fore and aft movement of the transmitter 12, the adjustment of the fulcrum being readily and quickly effected by moving it up or down in a slot 15 Figs. 2 and 3, in the loomside and clamping it in position in any suitable manner.

By the construction shown I simplifythe connection between the plates 5 and 6 and the transmitter, doing away with sliding boxes for the wrist-pins when the transmitter is directly conneced with the plates-as, for instance, in United States Patent No. 260,349

. and the radius-rod 14 obviates the sliding fulcrum for the transmitter, as in said patent, and the adjustment of the fulcrum 15 preserves the proper relation of the transmitter to the other parts.

The front end of the transmitter 12 is extended beyond the point of connection with the link 10, and its free end is herein shown as connected in a positive manner, as will be described, with a compound vibrator, one member of which is connected with the shuttle-box by or through the shifter-rod 4. As herein shown, the vibrator comprises a primary member or lever 20 21, having a hub 20, Fig. 2, mounted loosely on a fixed support, shown as a stud 22, rigidly attached to the loom side, the rear arm 20 of said primary member having a counterbalancingweight 23 thereon. A stud 24 is rigidly secured to and projects laterally from the inner face of the arm 21 at its outer end and forms a positive pivotal connection between the primary member'and the secondary member or lever 25 26 of thevibrator. The forward arm 25 is pivotally connected at 27 with a foot 28, adjustably attached to the lower end of the lifter-rod 4. The rear arm 26extends toward the fixed fulcrum 22 alongside the adjacent arm 21 of the primary member. A link 29 is pivotally mounted at one end on the stud 24 and at its upper end is connected with the transmitter 12 at 30. l have provided yielding means to so connect the two vibrator members that under normal conditions they will rock in unison on the fixed fulcrum 22 precisely as if said members were a unitary part of the apparatus, and under such conditions the vibrator will raise and lower the shuttle-box as called for by the pattern-controlled actuating means. From the foregoing description, in connection with the drawings, it will be manifest that the primary member 20 21 is positively rocked on adjustment.

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the fulcrum 22, and such vibration will be continued during the operation of the loom even should the movement of the shuttle-box be obstructed abnormally, as by failure of the shuttle to get home or from any other cause. Upon the occurrence of such obstruction an abnormal strain will be brought upon the shifter-rod and the parts connected therewith, and in order to prevent breakage of the parts or other injury I have provided the yielding connection or relief motion between the members of the vibrator. Such connection comprises a separable coupling, the parts of which are normally closed by a relief-spring and held thereby in operative engagement with the. vibrator members. Referring to Fig. 9,

. the coupling as herein shown consists of two oppositely-bent and substantially L-shaped parts 31 41, having hubs 32 42, adapted to loosely receive the stud 24, said hubs being placed side by side, (see Figs. land 9,) the part 41 being offset adjacent its hub, so that the parts will lie one above the other. The hubs are interposed between the adjacent arms 21 and 26 of the vibrator members, the bent and oppositely-turned ends of the coupling parts projecting above and below the same, respectively, as shown. Lateral lugs 43 on the part 41 are adapted under normal conditions to abut against the lower edges of the 5 arms 21 and 26 of the vibrator members, while similar lugs 33 on the part 31 of the coupling engage the upper edges of said arms. The bent ends of the coupling parts are outturned, as at 34 44, in parallelism to form supports for short threaded rods 8, attached to opposite ends of a strong relief-spring S, the rods passing through holes in the supports 34 44 and being held in place by check-nuts 35 45. (See Figs. 1, 5, 6, and 7,wherein they are most clearly shown.) By setting up or easing off the check-nuts the tension of the spring can be adjusted to increase or decrease the force requisite to open the coupling, it being manifest that normally the spring causes the coupling to hold the vibrator members from relative movement in a positive and effective manner by or through the oppositely-acting lugs 33 43. Consequently when the primary member is rocked by the means already described about the fixed fulcrum 22 the secondary member will also rock about such fulcrum, moving in unison with the primary member as if it were an integral part thereof. The adjusting means for the relief-spring S is at the side of the loom in plain sight and perfectly accessible when] adjustment is desired, so that no time is lost in effecting the Inasmuch as the vibrator members rock as a unit about a common fixed fulcrum normally, it will be clear that the shuttle-box will be moved up and down as determined by the pattern-surface. Should any abnormal strain be brought upon the shifterrod, as by failure of the shuttle to box properly or through sticking of the shuttle-box or from any other cause, the members of the vibrator are relatively moved about the different fulcra, the relief-spring S yielding and permitting the parts of the coupling to separate, so that the shuttle-box and shifter-rod remain quiescent. At such time the fulcrum of the secondary member 26 shifts from the stud 22 to the pivotal connection 27 with the shifter-rod, the latter being held from movement. The two vibrator members then move angularly in opposite directions,stretch ing the relief-spring as the coupling is separated.

In Fig. 3 it is supposed that on its upward movement the shuttle-box has met with some obstruction before the primary member of the vibrator has completed its full stroke. As soon as the abnormal strain comes upon the shifter-rod the arm 25 of the secondary memher is stopped at the joint or pivot connection 27, and said member swings about it as a fulcrum, lifting the upturned end of the coupling part 31 through the engaged lug 33 and stretching the spring, the lower edge of the arm 21 of the primary member acting oppositely against the cooperating lug 43. This is shown in Fig. 6, the spring giving or stretching. as the coupling separates. In Fig. 4 the abnormal strain is supposed to occur when the shuttle-box is descending, the resulting operation of the members of the vibrator being such as just described, except that the overlapping portions of the two members swing downward about the fulcra 22 and 27, stretching the spring as the coupling separates. This relative positioning of the parts is shown in cross-section in Fig. 7 and will be readily understood. Assoon as the fault is corrected and the shuttle-box freed the spring contracts, closes the coupling, and restores the vibrator members totheir normal relative position automatically to rock in unison on the common fixed fulcrum 22. My object has been to eliminate as far as possible the uncertain element of friction, (which has heretofore, in conjunction with springs, usually been depended upon in devices of this general charactor.) and 1 have also aimed to bring the boxoperating strain very directly upon an easilyadjusted spring. Atthe same time the members of the compound vibrator are absolutely and positively kept in proper relative position under normal conditions of working by the use of the lugs on the parts of the coupling. The tension of the spring S is readily adjusted by the nuts 35 to overcome the strain normally required to operate the shuttle-box.

In Fig. 8 I have shown my invention applied to a shuttle-box having two sh uttle-compartments, the general construction, arrangement, and operation of the compound vibrator being such as has been already described. The vibrator is actuated by different means, however, the primary member 20 21 having a rigidly-attached or integral uptu rned arm 50, which is bifurcated or longitudinally slotted at 51 to slidably receive a block 52, rotatably mounted on the wrist-pin 53 of the single plate 54, which is revolved by means of the pattern-controlled mechanism, as usual. The revolutions of the plate rock the arm and vibrator, and upon the subjection of the shifterrod to abnormal strain the two members of the vibrator move relatively and about separate fulcra, as hereinbefore set forth, the reliefspring yielding while the primary member completes its stroke.

The weight 23 shown in the drawings serves to counterbalance the vibrator and a portion of the weight of the shuttle-box and lifter-rod to render the operation of the mechanism as easy as possible.

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction and arrangement herein shown and described, for the same may be varied or changed in different particulars by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a loom, in combination, a lay having a shifting shuttle-box, and box-operating mechanism, includingacompound vibrator, a fixed fulcrum on which one of its members is mounted,and yielding means to normally cause the members of the vibrator to rock in unison about said fulcrum, abnormal strain upon the vibrator causing relative movement of its members, to prevent breakage.

2. In a loom, in combination. a lay having a shifting shuttle box, and box-operating mechanism, including a compound vibrator, a fixed fulcrum on which one of its members is mounted and yielding means to normally cause the two members of the vibrator to rock in unison about said fulcrum, obstruction of movement of the shuttle-box causing relative movement of the members of said vibrator the one member about said fulcrum and the other member independently thereof, and rendering said mechanism inactive.

3. In a loom, in combination, a lay having a shifting shuttle-box, and box-operating mechanism, including a compound vibrator, a fixed fulcrum on which one of its members is mounted, a separable coupling between and to normally cause the members of the vibrator to rock in unison about said fulcrum, and a spring connected at its oppositeends with the separable parts of and acting to govern the coupling, abnormal strain upon the vibrator opening the coupling against the action of its spring and causing relative movement of the vibrator members.

4. In a loom, in combination, a lay having a shifting shuttle-box, and box-operating mechanism, including a compound vibrator, a fixed fulcrum on which one of its members is mounted, a direct connection between the other member and the shuttle-box, and yielding means to normally cause such members to rock in unison about the fixed fulcrum, obstruction of the box movement causing relative movement of the vibrator members, the one on the fixed fulcrum and the other the connection between it and the shuttle-box.

5. The combination in a loom, with a lay hav ing a shifting shuttle-box, and an attached shifter-rod, of box-operating mechanism including a compound vibrator one member whereof is pivotally connected with the shifterrod,a fixed fulcrum for the other member, and a spring-controlled coupling for and normally causing the members of the vibrator to rock in unison on the fixed fulcrum, abnormal resistance tom'ovement of the shuttle-box causing relative movement of the vibrator members about the fixed fulcrum and the shifter-rod, respectively.

6. In a loom, a lay having a shifting shuttle-box, and an attached shifter-rod, combined with box-operating mechanism, including a compound vibrator, a fixed support on which one member thereof is pivotally mounted, the other member being pivotally connected with the shifter-rod, means to positively rock the first-named member, and a yielding connection between and to normally cause the vibrator members to rock in unison on the fixed support, abnormal resistance to box motion causing relative movement of the members against the yielding connection and about the fixed support and the shifter-rod as fulcra, respectively. v

7. In a loom, in combination, a lay having a shifting shuttlebox, and box-operating mechanism, including a compound vibrator, comprising a positively-actuated primary member and a secondary member pivotally mounted thereon and directly connected with the shuttle-box, a fixed fulcrum for the primary member, and yielding means to normally cause said members to rock in unison on said fulcrum, abnormal strain upon the vivibrator shifting the fulcrum of the secondary member and causing relative movement of said members against the action of said yielding means.

8. In a loom, in combination, a lay having a shifting shuttle-box, and an attached shifterrod, and box-operating mechanism, including a vibrator comprising pivotally-connected primary and secondary members, the latter being jointed to the shifter-rod, afixed fulcrum for the primary member, means to rock said member positively, and a spring connection between the vibrator members, to normally cause them to rock in unison about said fulcrum and operate the shuttle-box, obstruction of movement of the latter changing the fulcrum of the secondary member to the shifterrod and causing relative movement of the vibrator members about their respective fulcra,

the spring connection yielding to the strain and preventing breakage.

9. In a loom, in combination, a lay having a shifting shuttle-box, and boxoperating mechanism, including a compound vibrator the members whereof are pivotally connected, a direct connection between the shuttle-box and one member, afixed fulcrum for the other member,a spring-controlled coupling between and normally causing said members to rock in unison on said fulcrum, and means to adjust said coupling, the latter yielding under abnormal strain and shifting to its connection with the shuttle-box the fulcrum of the adjacent vibrator member,whereby relative movement of the members is effected and breakage prevented.

10. In a loom, in combination, a lay having a shifting shuttle-box,and an attached shifterrod, and box-operating mechanism, including a vibrator comprising pivotally-connected primary and secondary members, the latter being jointed to'the shifter-rod, a fixed fulcrum for the primary member, means to rock said member positively, a separable coupling the parts whereof oppositely engage ad jaccnt portions of said vibrator members, and a spring to normally close the coupling and cause movement of the primary and secondarymembers in unison about the fixed fulcrum, abnormal resistance to movement of the shuttle-box causing relative angular movement of the vibrator members about the fixed fulcrum and the shifter-rod,respectively,opening the coupling against the action of the spring.

11. In a loom, in combination, a lay having a shifting shuttle-box, a shifter-rod attached thereto,and box-operating mechanism including a vibrator comprising two levers one of which is pivotally attached to the shifter-rod, a fixed fulcrum for the other lever, a pivotal connection for said levers between said fulcrum and the shifter-rod, andfa yielding safetycoupling between the overlapping portions of the levers to normally cause them to rock in unison about the fixed fulcrum and effect longitudinal movement of the shifter-rod.

12. In a loom, in combination, alayhaving a shifting shuttlebox, and box-operating mechanism including a compound Vibrator comprising two pivotally-connected members, a fixed support on which one member is mounted, actuating means positively connected with said member, a direct connection between the other member and the shuttle-box, and a spring-con trolled safety-coupling mounted on the pivotal connection between said members and cooperating with the latter to normally cause them to rock in unison on the fixed support and thereby operate the shuttle-box= 13. In a loom, a lay havingashifting shuttle-box, and an attached shifter-rod, combined with box-operating mechanism including a compound vibrator comprising a counterbalanced primary member adapted to be rocked positively by a pattern-controlled instrumentality, a fixed fulcrum for said member, a secondary member pivotally connected at its outer end with the shifter-rod and between its ends with said primary member, and an ad-- movement of the vibrator members about different fulcra and permitting the shifter-rod to remain stationary while the primary member completes its usual movement.

14. In a loom,a lay havinga shifting shuttlebox, and an attached shifter-rod, combined with box-operating mechanism including a compound vibrator comprising a positivelyactuated primary member, a fixed fulcrum therefor, a secondary member pivoted on the primary member eccentric to its fulcrum and connected with the shifter-rod, a two-part coupling in positive engagement with the opposite edges of normally adjacent portions of said members, and an adjustable relief-spring connecting the parts of the coupling and norally acting to cause movement of the vibrator members in unison about the fixed fulcrum, abnormal resistance to movement of the shuttle-box acting through the shifter-rod to effect angular movement of the second member on said rod as a fulcrum while the primary member completes its normal stroke, the spring stretching and allowing the parts of the coupling to separate.

15. In shuttle-boX-operating mechanism for looms, a compound vibrator comprising a primary member, a pivotally-connected secondary member adapted to be connected with the shuttle-box to shift the same, afixed fulcrum for the primary member, yielding means to normally cause said members to rock in uni son on the fixed fulcrum, a transmitting-lever adapted to be rocked by a pattern-controlled instrumentality and positively connected with the primary member of the vibrator, a radiusrod on which the transmitting-lever is pivotally mounted, and an adjustable fulcrum for the radius-rod.

16. In shuttle-box-operating mechanism for looms, a compound vibrator comprising two members one of which is adapted to be connected with the shuttle-box, a fixed fulcrum for the other member, a pivotal connection between said members, a yielding coupling between and to normally cause the members to rock in unison on the fixed fulcrum, a patterncontrolled transmitting-lever positively connected with the pivotal connection between the vibrator members, and an adjustable,angularly-movable support for the transmittinglever.

17. In shuttle-box-operating mechanism for looms, a compound vibrator comprising a primary member having a lateral stud on its forward end, a secondary member adapted to be connected with the shuttle-box and mounted on said stud, its inner end extending alongside the primary member, a fixed fulcrum for the latter, a separable coupling mounted on the stud and comprising two parts having lateral projections to engage the upper and lower edges, respectively, of the adjacent portions of the vibrator members, a spring to draw the coupling parts together and normally cause the vibrator members to rockjn unison on the fixed fulcrum, and pattern-controlled means to rock the primary member.

18. A loom having in combination a shifting shuttle-box, an attached shifter-rod, a compound lever one member of which is jointed to said rod, a fixed support on which the other member is mounted to rock, means adapted to be controlled by a pattern-surface, to positivelyrock said member, separable coupling whose parts are located above and below, re-

spectively, the inner end of the first-named member and the adjacent portion of the second member, and in positive engagement therewith, a relief-spring connecting the parts and normally causing both members of the lever to rock as a unit on the fixed support, and means to adjust the tension of the spring, abnormal resistance to box movement causing said lever members to move angularly in opposite directions about the fixed support and the shifter-rod,respectively,as fulcra,opening the coupling against the stress of'the spring.

1n testimonywhereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN T. MEATS.

Witnesses:

JOHN (J. EDWARDS, ELIZABETH R. MORRISON. 

